Coin gauge



T. MARTINEZ May 9 1967 COIN GAUGE Filed May 5, 1965 mw m 6 8 7 W 5 43 W 2 5 55 l 86 l 8 4 o 6 3 4 4 e. 3 PIC-L4 INVENTOR. THEODORE MARTINEZ BY W 6M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,318,006 COIN GAUGE Theodore Martinez, 1066 Williams St., San Leandro, Calif. 94579 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,708 2 Claims. (Cl. 33-168) This invention relates generally to a device for gauging stacks of rolled coins, and more particularly to a device for gauging tubularly wrapped stacks of coins.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coin gauge for quickly and accurately checking stacks of hand or machine wrapped coins of all denominations for shortage or overage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable hand held coin gauge of the character above described which is light, compact, and may be carried on a key chain, in a purse or in a pocket.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coin gauge which can be inexpensively made, has no moving parts and will give long and trouble-free service.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing (1 sheet):

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coin gauge constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing in phantom a typical roll of Wrapped coins and a portion of the operators hand.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the coin gauge shown in FIGURE 1 showing in phantom a stack of rolled coins.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the coin gauge of FIGURE 2 taken substantially along the line 3-3.

FIGURE 4 is another side view of the coin gauge of FIGURE 2 taken substantially along the line 4-4.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 2 and a portion of the stack of coins shown on an enlarged scale.

The coin gauge of the present invention consists briefly of an elongated hand held support 6; a hook shaped foot 7 connected to the support and projecting therefrom, the foot having a toe 8 adapted for pivotal abutment against one end 9 of a stack 11 of tubularly wrapped coins of a predetermined number, and the hook portion providing a recess 12 adapted for receiving the rolled projecting folded edges 13- of the wrapper enclosing said stack; and the other end of the support having a portion projecting therefrom and providing a gauging edge 14 adapted for slidably engaging the other end 16 of the stack. This pivotal movement of the stack about the toe 8 can be facilitated by rounding the edge which is remote from the support, as appears in the drawings.

The coin gauge of the present invention may be made of various materials, but is preferably made of metal. A length of about 4 inches will handle most standard size stacks of rolled coins and is handy in size for carrying in a purse or pocket. An opening 17 may be formed in an end of the support so that it can be carried on a key chain or conveniently mounted on a hook. The compact size of the device is such that it can be carried and used by public transit personnel, vending machine operators, and many other persons who work with rolled coins. The device can be made of thin metal so that it can lie on a surface and be aesthetically compatible and unobstrusive for use by bank clerks or other ofiice personnel who work with rolled coins.

' 3,318,006 Patented May 9, 1967 Foot 8 extends from end 10 at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the support and is here shown at roughly a right angle. The length of the foot is designed so that the foot portion 8 will engage the end 9 of the roll at a point beyond the thickened edge 13 of the wrapper. The toe 8 presents a relatively small area so that it will engage the end of the stack at a point where the wrapper is relatively thin. The small area of the toe more importantly permits the stack to be pivoted or rotated 50 that the other end of the stack may be socketed against the gauging edge at a point where the wrapper is relatively thin.

The gauging edge 14 is accurately spaced from the toe so that only a stack of coins having the precise number of coins will clear the gauging edge and be socketed in the device.

A gauging face 18 is located adjacent to the gauging edge 14 and generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the support so that some movement of the roll is possible past the gauging edge in order that that person using the gauge can sense the drop of the roll past the gauging edge as well as visually see the roll become socketed. A stop edge 18 adjacent the gauging face and at right angles thereto is provided to prevent excessive movement of the roll past the gauging edge.

All wrapped coins, whether hand or machine wrapped, have a thickened edge portion 13. border to insure accurate gauging, it is necessary to provide a recess 12 into which this thickened edge protrudes when the roll is in the gauging position, i.e. substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, as shown in FIGURE 2.

In hand wrapped rolls, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the ends of the wrapper are folded upon the ends of the stack so that portions of the end are covered with one or more layers of wrapper. It is possible to rotate the stack and move the gauging edge 14 over the edge of the stack at a point where the edge 13 is relatively thin and the wrapper is not cut. In machine rolled stacks, however, the edge 13 is uniformly thickened and it is generally necessary to cut through the edge. Edge 14 is therefore formed so as to provide a cutting edge for cutting a small portion of the edge of the wrapper.

In order for the gauge to accommodate stacks of coins of more than one denomination or of various numbers of coins, the side of the support opposite the foot is formed with a plurality of stepped lands and gauging edges arranged to descend relative to that foot projecting from the same side. Referring to FIGURE 1, the support is formed with a land 21 adjacent gauging edge 14 and parallel to stop edge 19, gauging edge 22 formed by the intersection of gauging face 23 and land 24, and gauging edge 26 formed by the intersection of gauging face 27 and top edge 28. To enable the toe 8 to cooper-ate with each of these gauging edges, which are different distances laterally from the support 6, and to accommodate coins of different diameters, the toe must have a dimension transversely to the axis of the stack to be measured which is less than the diameter of the smallest-diameter coin to be gauged. The said dimension, of course, is outside of the recess 12. As shown, at least a part of the toe is situated opposite at least a part of the gauging edges.

In order to accommodate coin rolls of all denominations, the device is preferably formed with hook shaped feet and stepped lands and gauging edge on both sides of the device. Second foot 31 projects from end 30is formed similarly to foot 7-and here consists of a toe 32 and a recess 33. A stop edge 36 is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device and intersects a gauging face 37. A gauging edge 38 is formed by the intersection of gauging face 37 and a land 39. An additional gauging edge 41 is formed by the intersection of a gauging face 42 and another land 43. Still another gauging edge 46 is formed by the intersection of gauging face 44 and top edge 47.

In order to facilitate the use of the device, the body surface 48 bears indicia marks 49 such as the figure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The figure 5 indicating the proper gauging edge to use when testing a roll of nic'kels. In like manner the figure 25 indicates the gauging edge for quarters, the figure the gauging edge for dimes, the figure 100 the gauging edge for silver dollers, the figure 1 the gauging edge for pennies, and the figure 50 the gauging edge for half dollers. The indicia marks may be printed, inscribed, punched, -or cast in the device.

In operation, the device may be used by grasping a stack of tubularly wrapped rolled coins with a hand 51 and placing the stack so that an end 9 is brought into abutment with the toe 8 of the foot '7. The stack is then lowered until the end 16 is brought into engagement with the gauging edge which corresponds with the number of coins in a standard roll of a given coin denomination. In machine wrapped rolls having a thickened edge 13, the gauging edge cuts through the Wrapper as shown in FIG- URE 5 and forms a tear edge 51.

In order to use the other side of the device, it is grasped between the thumb and the third finger and rotated thereabout until the opposite side is in the uppermost position. By placing the second foot at the diagonally opposite side, the user of the coin gauge does not need to change hands in gauging coin stacks of different denominations, or flip the gauge over to the back face. Positioning the feet at opposite ends enables the indicia marks to be placed on the same side of the gauge so that the user can easily choose which foot and gauging edge to use.

I have found that persons who must regularly use my coin gauge and check numerous stacks of coins can accomplish this task even more quickly than with the method set forth above if one edge adjacent the gauging face is chamfered. If the rolled edge is not too thick and the stack of coins is not newly minted so as to increase the length of the stack the chamfered edge will easily and quickly ride over the end of the stack into abutment with the gauging face. Chamfering reduces the thickness of the gauging edge and thereby facilitates cutting of the thickened edge 13 of the wrapper as the gauging edges move over it.

I have therefore provided chamfered edges 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 as shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 4, and 5.

To operate the coin gauge and utilize the chamfered edges, the operator holds the roll of coins in his left hand on the tips of his fingers with the first finger on the top coin of the stack. The stack is then tapped gently on a solid surface to seat the coins, keeping pressure on the top coin with the first finger. Next holding the gauge in the right hand with the indicia marks toward the operator, the foot of the gauge is placed on the bottom coin. The

final step is to move the top of the gauge away from the operator (in a counter clockwise direction about foot 7 as shown in FIGURE 1) and gently slide the selected chamfered edge over the top of the stack, seating a gauging face against the top 16 of the stack. When the wrapper edge 13 is thickened, it is cut by the gauging edge during the first part of the last-described step, and this cutting is facilitated when said edge is made thinner by the chamfer.

Edges 61 and 62 of toes 32 and 8 may be chamfered to avoid needless cutting of the paper enclosing the coin stacks.

I claim:

1. A gauge for checking the length of tubularly wrapped stacks of coins of different sizes, comprising:

(a) a hand-held support elongated in an axial direction;

(b) a hook-shaped foot connected to said support and projecting therefrom laterally to said axis, said foot having a toe adapted for pivotally and successively engaging an end of each of a plurality of stacks of tubularly wrapped coins, said hook portion providing a recess between the toe and the support adapted for receiving the rolled projecting folded edges of the wrappers enclosing said stacks; and

(c) a plurality of stepped lands and gauging edges formed on the other end of said support, said gauging edges being directed toward and spaced axially away from said toe at different predetermined distances such that each gauging edge is adapted to receive the other end of a stack of coins of different predetermined numbers, thicknesses and diameters;

(d) said toe having a maximum dimension transversely to said axis and outside of said recess which is less than the diameter of the smallest-diameter coin for cooperation with each of said gauging edges; and

(e) at least one of said gauging edges being chamfered to reduce its area and facilitate cutting the rolled projecting folded edge of the wrapper at said other end of a stack.

2. A method of gauging the length of a tubularly wrapped stack of coins having a rolled and projecting wrapper edge at each end, which comprises the steps of:

(a) engaging one end of said stack at a region spaced radially inwardly from said projecting edge to the toe of a gauging element, said toe having a maximum dimension which is less than the diameter of the coins in said stack;

(b) pivoting the said stack on said toe and thereby moving the other end toward and adjacent to a gauging edge to bring the side of the stack against a land and simultaneously cutting said projecting edge by said gauging edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,352 7/1870 McKean 33143 188,803 3/1877 Kuhlman 33--143 489,584 1/1893 Havener 33168 1,570,558 1/1926' Durtsche 33-468 2,588,227 3/1952 Gaerlich 33-468 2,616,182 11/1952 Brandt 33143 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Examiner, 

1. A GAUGE FOR CHECKING THE LENGTH OF TUBULARLY WRAPPED STACKS OF COINS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, COMPRISING: (A) A HAND-HELD SUPPORT ELONGATED IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION; (B) A HOOK-SHAPED FOOT CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT AND PROJECTING THEREFROM LATERALLY TO SAID AXIS, SAID FOOT HAVING A TOE ADAPTED FOR PIVOTALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGING AN END OF EACH OF A PLURALITY OF STACKS OF TUBULARLY WRAPPED COINS, SAID HOOK PORTION PROVIDING A RECESS BETWEEN THE TOE AND THE SUPPORT ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE ROLLED PROJECTING FOLDED EDGES OF THE WRAPPERS ENCLOSING SAID STACKS; AND (C) A PLURALITY OF STEPPED LANDS AND GAUGING EDGES FORMED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID SUPPORT, SAID GAUGING EDGES BEING DIRECTED TOWARD AND SPACED AXIALLY AWAY FROM SAID TOE AT DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED DISTANCES SUCH THAT EACH GAUGING EDGE IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE OTHER END OF A STACK OF COINS OF DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED NUMBERS, THICKNESSES AND DIAMETERS; (D) SAID TOE HAVING A MAXIMUM DIMENSION TRANSVERSELY TO SAID AXIS AND OUTSIDE OF SAID RECESS WHICH IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE SMALLEST-DIAMETER COIN FOR COOPERATION WITH EACH OF SAID GAUGING EDGES; AND (E) AT LEAST ONE OF SAID GAUGING EDGES BEING CHAMFERED TO REDUCE ITS AREA AND FACILITATE CUTTING THE ROLLED PROJECTING FOLDED EDGE OF THE WRAPPER AT SAID OTHER END OF A STACK.
 2. A METHOD OF GAUGING THE LENGTH OF A TUBULARLY WRAPPED STACK OF COINS HAVING A ROLLED AND PROJECTING WRAPPER EDGE AT EACH END, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: (A) ENGAGING ONE END OF SAID STACK AT A REGION SPACED RADIALLY INWARDLY FROM SAID PROJECTING EDGE TO THE TOE OF A GAUGING ELEMENT, SAID TOE HAVING A MAXIMUM DIMENSION WHICH IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE COINS IN SAID STACK; (B) PIVOTING THE SAID STACK ON SAID TOE AND THEREBY MOVING THE OTHER END TOWARD AND ADJACENT TO A GAUGING EDGE TO BRING THE SIDE OF THE STACK AGAINST A LAND AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING SAID PROJECTING EDGE BY SAID GAUGING EDGE. 